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Advice dog and Baby please?

11 replies

soasnottooutmyself · 03/02/2018 15:27

I'd really appreciate everyone's opinions and advice

DS is one, crawling not walking so always floor level. My mum looks after him 2 days a week and has a cairn terrier that she adores (I also love the dog but would dog 'parent' in a very different way, I think he's over indulged).

However mum and I have completely different views on how Baby and dog should interact.

For the record the dog is ... well a character. He nips me and mum, he jumps on the table to take food, he begs at the table, he barks almost non stop, he sleeps in mums bed. He very rarely does as he's told.

Mum wants him and Baby to be best friends. She encourages Baby to stroke the dog and lets the dog get excitable around the Baby. I don't want dog licking Baby but she doesn't care (especially as DS is a thumb sucker)

Last week I caught her giving the baby a ball to give to the dog (which involved the dog taking it directly from his hand - he didn't bite him but he's not a trained dog that would automatically know not to bite, he then went on to destroy the ball) I told her to stop but she rolled her eyes and clearly though I was being unreasonable. She thinks the dog knows to be gentle, he doesn't, he isn't trained and I think he's going to end up biting DS.

So .. am I unreasonable Or is she?

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Pippin8 · 03/02/2018 15:35

She is. It doesn’t work like that.
I have 2 dogs & often have my Toddler granddaughter. I’m all for children learning to respect animals, but there are ways to do that.

I would never let any dog near a young child’s face & would never let them take anything from their hand either. This will end in tears if she doesn’t respect your wishes. I’d start looking for alternative childcare.

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BiteyShark · 03/02/2018 15:42

I think your DM doesn't understand dog behaviour. However I presume she is doing you a favour with childcare so whilst you can ask her to respect your requests she doesn't have to so you may need to find other childcare.

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soasnottooutmyself · 03/02/2018 15:43

Thanks Pippin, I don't want alternative care as DS and her adore each other, she's his favourite person in the world 😊

Have you any advice on how I can get to believe I'm not being overly precious?

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BiteyShark · 03/02/2018 15:47

Best bet is pay a trainer to come and 'advise' both you and your DM on how to keep dog and baby happy and to manage their interactions because I suspect unless an 'expert' says something she will dismiss it as you being over protective.

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soasnottooutmyself · 03/02/2018 15:47

Thanks Bitey, I doesn't - she adores the dog and so he's very pampered but not disciplined.

Can anyone recommend a course article or book or something for me to show her that this isn't the right way? I honestly don't mind dog and Baby being together but in the right way - I just don't know what that is?

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soasnottooutmyself · 03/02/2018 15:48

Oh that's interesting, do you know where I find one?

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BiteyShark · 03/02/2018 15:50

Search around for dog training classes. Often they will also advertise private lessons (they don't cost much) and also will come to your house and advise on specific issues.